The North Cascades Scenic Highway 20 shall reopen tomorrow April 18, 2019.  Amazing that the highway got cleared so quickly. Just four weeks and even though there is low snow pack, there is still an awful lot of snow on the pass. Those WSDOT folks worked really hard. They have this new blog they do with this mountain goat, really cute. This picture has the mascot goat pulling the sign away. Adorable.  Anyway be sure to check out the WSDOT website WSDOT Pass Information to monitor conditions and be sure to watch the weather because this time of year the roads can be quite dangerous up in the pass, if the weather gets cold and wet. 

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 Fire season is something we in Methow Valley know all too well from recent years, but we get a break because of the winter snows. Poor California seems to get four seasons of fires and I do not know how they cope with one wildland fire after another, month after month, with devestating results. Here is a video warning of what is happening right now, looking at the past, and providing suggestions for future policies from the National Forest Service.

Here are some websites that I have found relating to the Cresent Mountain and Gilbert Fires burning up in Twisp River Drainage.

For fire info: https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/information/firemap.aspx and https://www.facebook.com/Okanogan.County.Emergency.Management/ and https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

and https://www.dnr.wa.gov/ and power house of real time data https://www.geomac.gov/viewer/viewer.shtml

For wind direction and speed:https://www.windfinder.com/#10/48.5693/-119.9867

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This week in Bellevue, Pat Zaby with the Certified Residential Specialist and national teacher with the National Association of Realtors, is teaching a very important course on advancing technologies for Realtors. Pat Zaby has been a member of the National Association of Realtors for half a century and brings us a wealth of knowledge. Thank you Pat for coming to Washington State to share the latest and greatest for Realtors. We real estate agents can take this important information and help our clients with the very best bleeding edge technologies so their real estate experience is smooth, efficient and informative.

Great class, and I am sure glad I am here.

Highway 20, North Cascades Highway may not look like there is a lot of snow on it, but up at the hair pin curves there is 25 feet of snow in places and 35 to 45 feet in the avalanche chutes this spring in Methow Valley 2017. This means we may see one of the latest openings to the highway in 45 years.  Going down the road and feeling bad about this news?  This unique situation can provide avid road cyclists a rare opportunity to enjoy the paved road less traveled for an extended season with less cars on the highway. Visitors and tourists can also enjoy a very serene Methow Valley experience. As it gets harder and harder to find those quiet peaceful spots in the world, the Methow Valley will be far less crowded...